Help ! Trying to get a factory folding seat fitted in my T4 Transporter panel Van

[robc]

Hi

I just picked up a 3 seater fold down rear bench with chassis mounted intertial reel seatbelts out of a 1999 T4 Transporter Panel Van. The owner removed it to fit a bed in the back.

I would like to have this fitted properly to my T4 panel van which is the same model as it came out of. Some small bits are missing (some nuts and perhaps a bracket or two)

I am in Sydney. Who could be recommended to legally fit this without costing me a bomb ?
Love to get your experience here, who to trust, and and the sorts of costs involved.

Thanks !

[Andrew123]

Hi Robc,
I am doing a similar conversion to a T5. Hard to find information or knowledge on this in Australia. I have hunted the Internet,
Mainly uk site Banwy, good info on site.(But will not send to Australia unless you organise your own courier) I have ordered genuine vw retrofit brackets to fit seat.(from Barloword VW spare parts)
Intend on getting engineer to certify seat install.

[robc]

Hi Andrew - Thanks for that. Yes the UK is heaven for this sort of stuff.
By the way is the seat you are fitting a fold/tumle-down or fixed?
Also what parts would I order from Barlowworld to fit the Inertial Reel seatbelts. I have the belts them but need fittings for the van - any clues? Or where I can get a parts manual for this?

[Andrew123]

Hi Robc,

Give me a call. 0419 379 183

[Sunny43.5]

Guys you can try these places as they specialize in aftermarket seating belts and certifications in NSW Safe Travel Solutions Van Seats: Removeable, Foldable and Fixed Van Seating I used to deal with thses people when I had my conversion shop many years ago Littles Child Restraints | Child Seats | Capsule Hire | Additional Seating

[robc]

Thanks Sunny43.5
I found two places today and they looked at the seat and the belts and both said they would have problems getting these passed legally. The seat did not have a manufacturers plate or VSB5 label. This means that if I had an accident I would not be covered by insurance.
I might visit the people you recommended and see what they have.

[Sunny43.5]

Yes they are probably right second hand seats were always a nightmare when I had my conversion shop here in Qld , without the VSB sticker some places may not want to allow themselves to be involved in case there was an accident . I know it sounds petty but the legal system kicks into high gear when accidents happen and insurance companies will do anything to deny a claim , so the onus then falls back on whoever certifies the seat and for them it can run into $millions in the event of a claim . Seat belts second hand are an absolute no no , regardless of how good they may look there is no way of knowing if they have been stressed or not . Seat belts are designed to be used in an accident once only , so if someone was in the belt in an accident the belt would have done its job of restraining an occupant and there fore would have been stretched to its limit . Again whoever certifies the seat and belts is going to be very cautious , we used to always make customers who supplied their own seat and belts replace the old belts with new ones it was the only way we could be safe from legal problems . Look no one wants to be the one who tells a customer that their "bargain " seat and belts will probably cost more than the seat did to actually fit it to a car etc.because of the need to fit new belts and certify it . The best answer I used to give customers was what price would they put on their childrens or family lives , three people in a seat could addd up to a huge court battle , thats why manufacturers spend millions testing their seats that they fit to their vehicles . Once a seat has been removed and fitted to another model not the same as it came from all that testing means very little .
When we used to fit seats if the belts were mounted separatly from the seat say to the floor or side pillars then the seat would only need certain size reinforcing plates and certain sized bolts etc that part was easy then seat belts could be mounted correctly again with special size plates etc to the floor and side pillars . But with out the VSB sticker or some documentation to prove the seat was built to a standard then you may be pushing you know what uphill !! Then again you may find someone who will look at it and say its okay who knows .

[Umai Naa!!]

There's a place in Belmore NSW that can do them as well. I've found them very helpful in the past.

[robc]

Thanks guys
I went to the Belmore place and they were very helpful. They indicated the same things and also said that legally you need a side window in a panel van if you install a seat. Add $200 They tried also to find the manufacturer of the seat I bought but a number of those have gone under in the last few years so no luck getting a VSB5 sticker. So I guess I will be dumping the seat and fittings. I guess I have only wasted $100 on the exercise and two day faffing around
No extra seats for this van. Cheap ones I mean.



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